What the org has to say: “YASP is building a youth-led movement to end the practice of trying and incarcerating young people as adults and create a world without youth incarceration.  Through our work in the Philadelphia jails, YASP provides space for incarcerated young people to express themselves creatively and to develop as leaders both within and beyond the prison walls.”

What we found: YASP is a participatory defense hub, which is a method of community organizing that empowers people to fight for themselves in the legal system. As the only participatory defense youth hub in Philadelphia, YASP has worked to end the incarceration of young people and help incarcerated youth become community leaders. Their program The Healing Futures is the city’s first pre-charge restorative justice program, which serves as an alternative to prosecution for young people who would otherwise be facing charges in the criminal justice system. YASP also offers training in youth organizing and volunteer opportunities.